Measurement data management system

Abstract

A system and process for managing measurement data and generating production and engineering drawings from measurements obtained from a sample population parts to generates and parametrically update engineering and production drawings from measurement data of actual parts. The system and process provides efficient allocation of measurement resources to generate engineering drawings and models. The resources are allocated in a manner that eliminates and reduce time required for producing and generating usable engineering models and drawings.

1 . A method of creating an engineering representation of a part comprising the steps of:
 a) area and profile scanning a physical part;   b) defining features of the physical part based on the scanning of the physical part;   c) creating an engineering representation including the defined features;   e) defining a parametric expression for each defined feature;   f) obtaining measurement data for each defined feature; and   g) creating geometric dimensions and tolerances for each defined feature based on the parametric expressions utilizing the measurement data.   
   
   
       2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , including the step of measuring additional physical parts and updating the geometric dimensions and tolerances for at least some of the defined features based on the additional measurements. 
   
   
       3 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , including the step of updating the parametric expression for at least some of the defined features based on the additional measurements. 
   
   
       4 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , including the step of recording the measurement data according to an association with each identified feature and the parametric expression. 
   
   
       5 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the step of defining features of the physical part comprises initially defining an outer perimeter of the physical part and defining coordinates for identified features of the physical part. 
   
   
       6 . The method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the step of defining features of the physical part comprises an area and profile scan of the physical part. 
   
   
       7 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a first physical part is utilized to define the primitive shape and features for the engineering representation and subsequent ones of the physical part are measured to update the parametric expressions and geometric dimensions and tolerances. 
   
   
       8 . The method as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the number of subsequent ones of the physical parts measured is determined to provide a desired inspection confidence level. 
   
   
       9 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , including the step of associating each defined feature with a desired tolerance and assigning a measurement accuracy requirement to the identified feature. 
   
   
       10 . The method as recited in  claim 7 , including the step of linking the measurement data to the engineering representation, and automatically updating the engineering representation based on recorded measurement data. 
   
   
       11 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the measurement data is recorded in an electronic database, and further including the step of performing a statistical analysis on measurements for each feature to determine when a desired statically significant number of measurements have been completed. 
   
   
       12 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , including the step of developing a measurement plan for each identified feature, wherein development of the measurement plan includes the step of assigning required measurement accuracy to each identified feature based on a desired measurement capability. 
   
   
       13 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , including the specifying a measurement process based on the desired measurement capability. 
   
   
       14 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the engineering representation comprises a three-dimensional model. 
   
   
       15 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the engineering representation comprises an engineering drawing. 
   
   
       16 . A system for creating engineering representation of a part comprising:
 a first inspection device defining a first set of features of a part;   a microprocessor programmed for identifying a set of parametric features the part based on the first set of features;   a second inspection device for obtaining data for each of the parametric features; and   an output device for generating an engineering representation of the part based on the first set of features and the data for each of the parametric features.   
   
   
       17 . The system as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the microcontroller includes a statistical calculator system for determining when a sufficient number of measurements have been obtained to meet a desired confidence level. 
   
   
       18 . The system as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the microcontroller updates the parametric features with measurement data obtained form the second inspection device. 
   
   
       19 . The system as recited in  claim 16 , including a feature library that includes pre-defined geometric shapes that are selected responsive to the defined first set of features of the part. 
   
   
       20 . The system as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the first inspection device comprises a scanner that defines a plurality of coordinate sets for each feature of the part. 
   
   
       21 . The system as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the second inspection device comprise one of a plurality of inspection machines selected depending to the parametric feature that is to be measured.